Grand Valley State University is included in a list of the nation's top 52 leaders for sustainability efforts at higher education institutes, according to the recently released 2011 College Sustainability Report Card issued by the Sustainable Endowment Institute.

Grand Valley was given an A- based on how sustainable practices were applied in nine different areas: Administration, Climate Change and Energy, Food and Recycling, Green Building, Student Involvement, Transportation, Endowment Transparency, Investment Priorities and Shareholder Engagement.

“Out of the 52 institutes, only seven were given an A, so receiving an A- is definitely something to be proud of,” said Norman Christopher, director of Grand Valley’s Sustainable Community Development Initiative. “This is a reflection of not only Grand Valley's sustainable efforts, but the community's as well.”

The report, a comparative evaluation of campus sustainability activities at colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada, identifies leaders in sustainability and has the highest participation rate of any sustainability ranking or rating. The Sustainable Endowment Institute is a nonprofit organization engaged in research and education to advance sustainability in campus operations and endowment practices.

This is the latest recognition Grand Valley has received for its sustainability efforts. Last year the university received national merit recognition in the Sustainable Endowment Institute's 2010 Campus Sustainability Report Card. Grand Valley was listed as one of the top 25 environmentally responsible and cutting edge green colleges in the Kaplan College Guide 2009. Grand Valley was the recipient of the U.S. Green Building Council's 2008 Recognition Award and the Sustainable Endowments Institute's 2008 National Sustainability Innovator Award.